Seclusion

Some Secluded Evening

JOEL KING SOUNDS LIKE HE'D RATHER BE IN BED ON A RAINY SYDNEY MORNING, BUT INSTEAD HE'S TELLING ANDREW P STREET ABOUT HIS BAND SECLUSION AND THEIR EP "INCARNATIONS" WHICH IS THE FIRST REPRESENTATION OF THEIR FORTHCOMING ALBUM, DUE LATE IN THE YEAR.

"Yeah, we've got an album planned that's call Miracles, Incarnations And Prophesies, and there'll be some same songs on there" King explains "They'll be new versions, they won't be the same ones as on this{EP} we haven't recorded it yet though, we're still working on it."

The disc represents the acoustic-to-rock scope of the band neatly, but King denies that the EP is part of a strategic plan to prepare the ground for the album. "We just thought the five of them suited the EP," he shrugs. "We recorded Say What You Mean a year ago , so we just chose the songs that we thought would work with it, with a couple of chilled ones at the end. It was'nt really any specific thing"

The band began as a project by King and long time friend and musical collaborator Brad Patison but has expanded over the past few years to include a floating line up. "The bass play who plays with us now (Joe Berben) used to play lead guitar two years ago:the three piece version of me Joe and Brad are always there now but we've got cello players and conga drum players and musos like that that come and go"

King claims that the personal are decided on the basis of"....what's appropiate for (each) show, its not realy who's available, because if we want them to play, they'll play. It'll be the full seven piece band at the launch, and we're alot different live. On the record there's probably four ,five sometimes ten guitar tracks going at once most of the time, but live theres only one- and same with cello and trumpet tracks"

Despite the expanded line up, King keeps a fairly tight rein on what goes on. "Its pretty laid down for(the other players) what they're going to play. Brad and I do most of the writing and when we were recording we told them exactly what to play, but live we let them go off on their own terms a little bit. If they want to experiment a bit and it works we'll leave it at that"

who:Seclusion
what: Incarnations(independant)
when:Friday 30 June
where:The Marquee Camperdown - Drum media magazine(Dharma media)

Reported by: Tim Calvert - Tuesday, Jun 27, 2006. 16:43

There are probably over a thousand bands in Sydney, so how does a single band succeed in getting our attention? It certainly helps when you have your own recording studio/rehearsal space and a team of loyal affiliates.

This is exactly what seven-piece folk act Seclusion enjoys. But don’t think for one minute that this outfit have had it any easier. Together since high school, founding members singer/guitarist Joel King and drummer Brad Patison have committed all their efforts into their band, working long and hard to get where they are today. Having spent the first half of their existence as a quartet from Tamworth, Seclusion has since reorganised its melodic line-up to include bassist/former guitarist Joe Berben, trumpeter/former sound engineer Mark Stott and three others; consisting of even a cellist and a violinist no less.

Seclusion just might be the most organised band in Sydney...

After a handful of months, the dynamic sevenfold headed by co-captains King and Patison are releasing Incarnations, a meticulously crafted EP that is bound to get you swaying your head with such acoustic odes as 'Say What You Mean', 'Your Attention' and 'My/Love'.

In this outstanding collection of feelings, the band swells a collage of cryptic guitar, stark ‘n’ steady rhythms and wailing trumpet. There’s arguably something bittersweet about Incarnations. The outfit’s intricate soft rock ebbs and flows with tranquil soft/loud dynamics and shrill, striking vocals. It’s folk by upstanding musicians who nod to everyone from the Smashing Pumpkins to Van Halen and Bob Dylan. With so many of today’s bands tending to sound either indie or hardcore, it’s refreshing to hear a group that can’t easily be pigeonholed. They’ve managed to come together and create something quite unique. Seclusion walks a fine line between folk and melodic rock, encompassing the best elements of both genres.

Put a mic in front of King and some drum sticks in the hands of Patison, and you will be graced with a chain of numbers that incant you to vast landscapes where you ponder humanity. King is a lot like a naïve philosopher, he projects the image of being a typical frontman, but if you dig a little deeper, it becomes clear that there’s a clever team leader inside of him. Patison on the other hand, is something of a silent rogue, a modest man of few words but many beats.

It’s difficult to compare Seclusion to other bands, because, frankly there aren’t many that step up to the challenge. You should give the sound of King and Patison’s collective your full attention.

- Fasterlouder.com.au

Reported by: marija zeko - Wednesday, Jul 05, 2006. 17:54



On a cold Friday night I reluctantly dragged myself out to The Marquee, as I’d rather be warm in bed. Yet the end result was well worth the effort!

The Seclusion EP launch bought a legion of followers from the Central Coast ready to cheer on the first act, One Jonathon. It has been a while since I’ve seen an act with such enthusiasm and promise. They bought the warmth from the coast and played a bevy of feel good songs, 'Too Sly' was a great opener, 'Take My Time' - an exciting little number; and the finale, 'Mango/Tango' - a piece that got the girls wiggling and jiggling on the dance floor.

The following act was a rapper called Ryan whose politically themed set won the audience's attention. I initially thought his act was a filler but was surprised at the saviness of his material. Unfortunately this skill was short lived as toward the end his act mimicked Eminem and lost its effervescence.

Red Ghost was done in the same vein. A cute soloist strumming away on the guitar who had an ethereal feel to her music but lacked excitement and soon enough all the songs sounded the same, dull. Provided the
tempo was diverse, the act could have been spruced.

The raison d’etre was upon us with Seclusion and the launch of their EP Incarnations. They were well worth the wait!

Their first song 'Your Attention' did just that, with singer Joel King immediately drawing our attention by throwing himself into the lyrics and hacking away at the guitar. The audience were attuned to his theatrics and this provided for lively interaction. Undertones of the grunge age surfaced, yet Seclusion is a law onto themselves with a commanding presence and energetic performance.

Joel’s guitar solos were a nice touch to an already impressive presence and song list. Joel Berben on Bass was sturdy and drummer Bradley Patison did a great drum solo that had us all equally enthused. Not in the John Bonham league just yet, nevertheless youth and commitment are on his side.

Songs 'Say What You Mean', said Seclusion came, 'All But Over'- they had seen and 'Define Love' – that they had conquered!

Seclusion is a band worth weathering a storm and forging out into the elements for!

- Fasterlouder.com.au